8. Group Management
8.1. The Executive Committee
The Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. (EC) consists of the CEO, the CFO, and two other members. The Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. regularly holds meetings at the Corporate Center in Pratteln or at other Clariant sites worldwide. It uses such external meetings to discuss business performance with the management of the local companies in person.
8.2. Members of the Executive Committee
The Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. comprised the following members:
8.2.1. Conrad Keijzer, Dutch citizen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since 1 January 2021
Operational responsibilities: Corporate Auditing (jointly with the Chairman of the Audit Committee); Group ComplianceComplianceCompliance is a key element of Corporate Governance. It refers to compliance with the law and directives as well as with company codes and ethical business practices and behaviors.; Group Communications; Group Legal; Group Human Resources.
Conrad Keijzer graduated from Twente University of Technology with a MSc in Industrial Engineering and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, USA. In 1994, he started his career at AkzoNobel as a Market Development Manager. As of 1997, he moved into several general management positions within the chemicals and coatings business with regional responsibilities across the Americas and Asia, before he had global roles as Managing Director of various business units. From 2013 until 2018, Conrad Keijzer held the position as CEO of Performance Coatings and was a Member of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. at AkzoNobel. From March 2018 until November 2019, he was Chief Executive Officer at Imerys S.A., where he drove the company’s transformation in order to set the strategic direction for organic growth and profitability improvement.
8.2.2. Hans Bohnen, German citizen, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO), Member of the Executive Committee since 12 October 2018
Operational responsibilities: Business Unit Catalysts; Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Business Line Biofuels & Derivatives; Group Procurement Services; Group Operational Excellence; and the regions Latin America and North America.
Hans Bohnen studied chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, obtained a PhD in chemistry from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and holds an MBA from the Aston Business School. Hans Bohnen began his career in 1995 as a research chemist at Hoechst AG. Between 1995 and 2006, he held several senior positions in research and development and operations across Europe and North America for Hoechst AG, Celanese AG, and SGL Group.
From 2007 until 2009, he worked in strategic management consultancy with Booz Allen Hamilton. In 2010, he became Senior Vice President and Head of Clariant’s Business Unit MasterbatchesMasterbatchesThese are plastic additives in the form of granules with dyestuffs or other additives used to dye or alter the properties of natural plastic.. In 2015, he was appointed Head of Clariant’s Global Business Services to build up Clariant’s internal shared service organization. On 12 October 2018, he was appointed Member of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. of Clariant.
8.2.3. Bernd Hoegemann, German citizen, Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer, Member of the Executive Committee since 1 November 2019
Operational responsibilities: Business Unit Functional Minerals; Business Unit Additives; Project Clariant 2021; Divestment of Business Unit PigmentsPigmentsPigments are substances used for coloring; they are used in a technical manner, for example in the manufacture of dyes, varnishes, and plastics. In 2020, Clariant launched the divestment process of its Pigments business, which was completed on 3 January 2022.; Corporate Planning & Strategy; Group Innovation & Sustainability; region Asia-Pacific (i.e., India, Southeast Asia & Pacific, Japan, and Greater China).
In 2006, Bernd Hoegemann received his doctorate in economics from the University of Munster, Germany, where he had also completed his master’s degree in psychology. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Hagen, Germany. He began his career as a consultant in 2000 and has held several positions as a senior consultant with renowned companies. In 2008, he joined Clariant, where he was responsible for Senior Management Development. From 2012 until 2017, he headed the Clariant Excellence unit. From 2015 until 2018, Bernd Hoegemann was Head of Corporate Planning & Strategy. He was appointed Head of the Business Unit MasterbatchesMasterbatchesThese are plastic additives in the form of granules with dyestuffs or other additives used to dye or alter the properties of natural plastic. in 2018 and, on 1 November 2019, appointed Member of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. of Clariant.
8.2.4. Stephan Lynen, German citizen, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (CFO), CFO and Member of the Executive Committee since 1 April 2020
Operational responsibilities: Corporate Accounting; Corporate Controlling; Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions; Corporate Tax; Corporate Treasury; Global Business Services; Group Finance Services; Group Investor Relations; Group Information Technology; and the region Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Stephan Lynen studied business administration at the University of Cologne and economics and finance at University of California, Los Angeles, USA. In 1998, he joined Clariant as a corporate internal auditor and took various leading positions in finance at our headquarters, in Turkey, and in Japan, and led several M&A projects before becoming Head of Group Controlling. From 2013 until 2014, Stephan Lynen was the General Manager of Clariant’s Joint VentureJoint ventureJoint ventures are all activities in which Clariant is involved with another partner. The accounting method applied for joint ventures depends on the specific conditions of the participation. Global Amines Company in Singapore. Starting in 2015, he held the position of Head of Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties for the Asia-Pacific region before starting his previous role as global Head of Business Unit Additives in 2016. On 1 April 2020, he was appointed CFO and Member of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. of Clariant.
Other activities and functions
While the members of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. may undertake other activities in accordance with Article 38 para. 2 of the Articles of Association (www.clariant.com/en/Company/Corporate-Governance/Articles-of-Association), none of the members of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. undertake other activities or hold consultancy functions or other offices.
8.3. Management contracts with third parties
There are no management contracts with third parties.
8.4. Contractual arrangements for members of the Executive Committee
All members of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeManagement body of joint stock companies; at Clariant the Executive Committee currently comprises four members. hold employment contracts with Clariant International Ltd, the Clariant Group’s management company. The contractual provisions are governed exclusively by Swiss law. Contracts of the members of the Executive Committee are subject to a standard notice period of twelve months.